Aircraft power plant with supercritical CO2 heat engine

ABSTRACT

Aircraft power plants including combustion engines, and associated methods for recuperating waste heat from such aircraft power plants are described. A method includes transferring the heat rejected by the internal combustion engine to supercritical CO2 (sCO2) used as a working fluid in a heat engine. The heat engine converts at least some the heat transferred to the sCO2 to mechanical energy to perform useful work onboard the aircraft.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/081,051 filed on Oct. 27, 2020, the entire contents of whichare hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to aircraft engines, and moreparticularly to recuperating waste heat from aircraft engines.

BACKGROUND

It is desirable for aircraft engines and systems to operate in an energyefficient manner to promote reduced fuel consumption and operatingcosts. During operation of internal combustion engines, waste heat canbe generated. In a turbofan aircraft engine for example, waste heat iscarried in the flow of hot exhaust gas that exits the turbofan engine.Since the flow of exhaust gas exiting the turbofan engine contributes tothe thrust produced by the engine, attempting to recuperate heat fromthe exhaust gas in a way that improves overall energy efficiency can bechallenging. Improvement is desirable.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the disclosure describes an aircraft propulsion systemcomprising: an internal combustion engine using intermittent combustionduring operation; a propeller for propelling the aircraft, the propellerbeing drivingly engaged with the internal combustion engine; aturbocharger associated with the internal combustion engine, theturbocharger including a turbocharger turbine configured to be driven bya flow of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, and aturbocharger compressor drivingly engaged with the turbocharger turbineand configured to compress combustion air for the internal combustionengine; a heat engine using supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) as aworking fluid to convert heat into mechanical energy; and a first heatexchanger to facilitate heat transfer between the exhaust gas downstreamof the turbocharger turbine and the sCO₂.

In another aspect, the disclosure describes an aircraft power plantcomprising: a Wankel engine; and a heat engine using supercriticalcarbon dioxide (sCO₂) as a working fluid to convert heat into mechanicalenergy, the heat engine being in thermal communication with exhaust gasfrom the Wankel engine.

In a further aspect, the disclosure describes a method of operating anaircraft power plant including an internal combustion engine. The methodcomprises: operating the internal combustion engine of the aircraftpower plant using intermittent combustion; generating heat using theinternal combustion engine; transferring the heat from the internalcombustion engine to supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) used as aworking fluid in a heat engine; and converting at least some of the heattransferred to the sCO₂ to mechanical energy using the heat engine.

Further details of these and other aspects of the subject matter of thisapplication will be apparent from the detailed description includedbelow and the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows an aircraft including an exemplary aircraftpower plant as described herein;

FIG. 2 schematically shows an exemplary internal combustion engine ofthe propulsion system of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 schematically shows another exemplary aircraft power plant;

FIG. 4 schematically shows another exemplary aircraft power plant;

FIG. 5 is a temperature versus entropy graph illustrating an exemplarythermodynamic cycle implemented by a heat engine of the aircraft powerplant; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating an aircraftpower plant including a combustion engine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure describes aircraft power plants and associatedmethods for converting waste heat generated by aircraft engines intouseful work. In various embodiments, power plants described herein makeuse of aircraft engine types that do not generate significant thrust forpropelling the aircraft from their flow of exhaust gas exiting theengine. Accordingly, the flow of exhaust gas can be manipulated bypassing it through a heat exchanger and cooling it without significantlyreducing a thrust output or overall efficiency of the engine. The heatfrom the exhaust gas of the aircraft engine (and/or other heat sourcesof the aircraft engine) may be transferred to a heat engine thatconverts at least some of the heat into mechanical energy that may inturn perform useful work onboard the aircraft.

In some embodiments, the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) as aworking fluid for the heat engine may be beneficial for some aircraftapplications. For example, the applicable temperatures and also thedifference in temperature between the heat sources of the aircraftengine and the ambient air outside of the aircraft either at (e.g.,cruising) altitude or on the ground on relatively cold days may promotea relatively desirable thermodynamic efficiency for a heat engine usingsCO₂ as a working fluid. The use of sCO₂ as a working fluid may alsoprovide a relatively environmentally-friendly solution for convertingotherwise wasted heat from an aircraft engine into useful work. SincesCO₂ has a relatively high density, its use as the working fluid in theheat engine promotes compactness of the heat engine, which may befitting for aircraft applications.

The term “connected” or “coupled to” may include both direct connectionor coupling (where two elements in question contact each other) andindirect connection or coupling (where at least one additional elementis located between the two elements).

The term “substantially” as used herein may be applied to modify anyquantitative representation which could permissibly vary withoutresulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related.

Aspects of various embodiments are described through reference to thedrawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows aircraft 10 including an exemplary powerplant 12 as described further below. In various embodiments, aircraft 10may be a manned or unmanned aircraft (e.g., drones) such as corporate,private, fixed-wing, rotary-wing (e.g., helicopter), commercial andpassenger aircraft. In some embodiments, power plant 12 may be part of apropulsion system of aircraft 10. For example, power plant 12 may bedrivingly engaged with propeller 14 via output shaft 16, which may be apropeller drive shaft so that power plant 12 may provide energy forpropulsion of aircraft 10 and optionally also provide energy forfunctions other than propulsion by supplying compressed air to pneumaticloads and/or driving accessories such as an electric generator and ahydraulic pump via an accessory gearbox.

Alternatively, power plant 12 may be an auxiliary power unit (APU) ofaircraft 10 and may provide energy exclusively for functions other thanpropulsion of aircraft 10. Such functions other than propulsion mayinclude supplying compressed air to pneumatic loads, providing electricenergy and/or driving a hydraulic pump for example. In some embodiments,power plant 12 may be a supplemental power unit (SPU) of aircraft 10that may indirectly assist one or more main engines of aircraft 10 byproviding compressed air and/or powering other accessory loads duringcertain phases of flight to allow more of the main engine(s)' poweroutput to be dedicated to the propulsive function.

Power plant 12 may include one or more (e.g., internal) combustionengines 18 (referred hereinafter in the singular as “engine 18”). Engine18 may be of a type other than a turbofan engine. For example, engine 18may be of a type where the exhaust gas of engine 18 produces nosignificant thrust for propelling aircraft 10 so that heat may berecuperated (e.g., by having the exhaust stream pass through a heatexchanger) from the exhaust gas without significantly affecting thepropulsive energy output of engine 18. In some embodiments, engine 18may include a gas turbine engine in a turboprop or turboshaftinstallation. In some embodiments, engine 18 may include an internalcombustion engine using intermittent combustion during operation. Suchengine 18 with intermittent combustion may be a reciprocating enginesuch as piston engine, or a pistonless rotary engine for example. Insome embodiments, engine 18 may include a Wankel engine using aneccentric rotary design to convert pressure into rotating motion. Insome embodiments, engine 18 may be a compound cycle engine as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 10,107,195 (Title: COMPOUND CYCLE ENGINE), the entirecontents of which are incorporated by reference herein. In someembodiments, engine 18 may operate on a mixture of relatively heavy fuel(e.g. diesel, kerosene (jet fuel), equivalent biofuel) and air.

Power plant 12 may also include one or more heat engines 20 (referredhereinafter in the singular) operatively coupled to engine 18 and drivenusing heat generated and rejected by engine 18, and transferred to aworking fluid of heat engine 20. The working fluid of heat engine 20 maybe in thermal communication with engine 18. As explained below, heatfrom one or more heat sources (e.g., exhaust gas, coolant fluid,lubricating fluid) from engine 18 may be transferred to the workingfluid of heat engine 20. The working fluid of heat engine 20 may besCO₂. As explained below, heat engine 20 may implement a closedthermodynamic cycle using sCO₂ as a working fluid where the workingfluid is maintained at or above its critical temperature and criticalpressure for at least part of the thermodynamic cycle. In someembodiments, the working fluid may be kept at or above its criticaltemperature and critical pressure throughout substantially the entirethermodynamic cycle implemented by heat engine 20. When CO₂ is at orabove its critical point, it can adopt properties between a gas and aliquid, which may be desirable for use as a working fluid in heat engine20. However, in other embodiments, other working fluids (supercriticalor not) may be utilized (e.g., any suitable organic fluid, refrigerantfluid, etc.).

Heat engine 20 may convert at least some of the heat transferred fromengine 18 to heat engine 20 into mechanical energy that may be used toperform useful work onboard aircraft 10 by powering one or more loads 22(referred hereinafter in the singular). Load 22 may include one or moreelectric generators, one or more air compressors, and/or one or morehydraulic pumps. Aircraft power plant 12 may be a combined cycle powerplant where engine 18 is operated as a topping cycle and heat engine 20is operated as a bottoming cycle. In some embodiments, energy producedby heat engine 20 may also be combined with engine 18 to drive propeller14 via appropriate mechanical coupling (i.e., clutch, gearbox).

FIG. 2 schematically shows an exemplary combustion engine 18. In someembodiments, engine 18 may be turbocharged by way of optionalturbocharger 24. In some embodiments, engine 18 may be a turbo-compoundinternal combustion engine such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,107,195as an example. Engine 18 may include one or more (e.g., Wankel) rotaryinternal combustion engines. Engine 18 may include a rotor disposedinside and sealingly engaged with housing 26. Engine 18 may drive one ormore loads which may or may not include propeller 14 via output shaft 16which may be drivingly engaged with the load(s) via a (e.g.,speed-reducing) gearbox.

Compared to a continuous combustion engine such as a gas turbine engine,a liquid-cooled intermittent combustion engine may provide twosignificant sources of heat at two different temperatures for drivingheat engine 20. The two sources of heat at different temperatures may besuitable for staged heat recuperation as described below in reference toFIGS. 3 and 4 . Staged heat recuperation may be desirable in somesituations because of lower thermal stresses that may be exhibited intwo or more staged heat exchangers compared to having a single heatexchanger facilitating heat transfer between two fluids at a greatertemperature difference.

In a non-limiting example using typical numerical values and theavailable fuel energy as a reference, if a typical gas turbine engineconverts about 25% of fuel energy into shaft power, about 73% of thefuel energy may be released in the exhaust gas stream at a relativelyhigh temperature and only about 2% or less of the fuel energy may bereleased via the lubricating fluid at a relatively low temperature. Onthe other hand, for an intermittent combustion engine of similar outputpower rating, about 35% of the fuel energy may be converted into shaftpower, about 40% of the fuel energy may be released in the exhaust gasstream, about 15% of the fuel energy may be released via a coolantfluid, and about 10% of the fuel energy may be released via alubricating fluid. The 40% of the fuel energy released in the exhauststream may provide a meaningful high temperature source for driving heatengine 20. In addition, the 25% of the fuel energy released via thecoolant fluid (15%) and the lubricating fluid (10%) may provide ameaningful low temperature source for driving heat engine 20. The highand low temperature sources may be more suitable for staged heatrecuperation compared to the 73% of the fuel energy in the exhaust gasstream and the 2% or less of the fuel energy in the lubricating fluid ofthe gas turbine engine. Also, compared to transferring heat from a gas,heat transfer from liquid coolant fluid and/or liquid lubricating fluidmay, in some situations, be conducted via a relatively more compact andlightweight heat exchanger due to a higher heat transfer coefficientfrom the liquid heat source(s).

Turbocharger 24 may include turbocharger compressor 28 and turbochargerturbine 30 which may be drivingly interconnected and engaged via shaft32 so that turbocharger compressor 28 may be driven by turbochargerturbine 30. Turbocharger compressor 28 and turbocharger turbine 30 mayeach be a single-stage device or a multiple-stage device with a singleshaft, or split on multiple independent shafts in parallel or in series,and may be a centrifugal, axial or mixed device. Shaft 32 ofturbocharger 24 may be mechanically disconnected from output shaft 16and may rotate separately from output shaft 16. Turbocharger compressor28 of turbocharger 24 may receive (e.g., ambient) air and compress theair to be supplied as combustion air to engine 18.

Engine 18 may use intermittent combustion during operation and mayprovide a pulsating exhaust gas flow. The exhaust gas flow output fromengine 18 may be directed to optional first stage turbine 34 drivinglyengaged with output shaft 16 to extract energy from the flow of exhaustgas and transfer that extracted energy to output shaft 16. First stageturbine 34 may be configured to extract kinetic energy from thepulsating flow of exhaust gas exiting engine 18 while also stabilizingthe flow. After passing through first stage turbine 34, the flow ofexhaust gas may be directed to turbocharger turbine 30, which may be asecond stage of energy extraction from the flow of exhaust gas followingfirst stage turbine 34. Turbocharger turbine 30 may then driveturbocharger compressor 28. First stage turbine 34 and output shaft 16may be drivingly engaged with engine 18 via an optional suitable speedaltering (e.g., planetary) gear train 35.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of another exemplary aircraft powerplant 112. Power plant 112 may include combustion engine 18 and optionalturbocharger 24 described above. Power plant 112 may include heat engine120 thermally coupled with one or more sources of heat being rejected byengine 18. Heat engine 120 may include heat engine turbine 36 and heatengine compressor 38 drivingly engaged with heat engine turbine 36 viashaft 40. The working fluid (e.g., sCO₂) of heat engine 120 may becompressed by heat engine compressor 38, heated via one or more heatsources of engine 18 and then directed to heat engine turbine 36 wherethe working fluid is expanded and heat engine turbine 36 is driven togenerate mechanical energy that may be used to drive load 22 (shown inFIG. 1 ). The working fluid exiting heat engine turbine 36 may be cooledbefore being returned to heat engine compressor 38 for compression tostart the thermodynamic cycle again.

Heating sources for the working fluid may include one or more heaterssuch as low-temperature heater 42 and/or high-temperature heater 44. Inrelation to the flow of working fluid being heated, low-temperatureheater 42 and high-temperature heater 44 may be disposed in series andlow-temperature heater 42 may be disposed upstream of high-temperatureheater 44. Low-temperature heater 42 may include one or more heatexchangers. In embodiments where engine 18 is liquid-cooled, lowtemperature heater 42 may, for example, include a first heat exchangerto facilitate heat transfer from a coolant fluid carrying heat fromengine 18 to the working fluid of heat engine 120. In embodiments whereengine 18 includes a lubricating system circulating lubricating fluid toone or more lubrication loads, low temperature heater 42 mayadditionally or instead include a second heat exchanger to facilitateheat transfer from the lubricating fluid (e.g., oil) carrying heat fromengine 18 to the working fluid of heat engine 120.

In some embodiments, power plant 112 may include an optional intercooler46 for cooling the combustion air supplied to engine 18 by turbochargercompressor 28. Intercooler 46 may include one or more heat exchangersconfigured to facilitate heat transfer from combustion air supplied toengine 18 to the coolant fluid. Accordingly, some heat extracted fromthe combustion air downstream of turbocharger compressor 28 may betransferred to the working fluid of heat engine 120 by way of thecoolant fluid. Following intercooler 46, the combustion air may enterengine 18 where the combustion air may be further compressed, burnedwith fuel and expanded to generate mechanical energy.

High-temperature heater 44 may include one or more heat exchangers. Forexample, high-temperature heater 44 may be configured to facilitate heattransfer from the exhaust gas of engine 18 to the working fluid of heatengine 120. In some embodiments, high-temperature heater 44 may beoperatively disposed to receive exhaust gas downstream of turbochargerturbine 30. This location of high-temperature heater 44 may permit bothfirst stage turbine 34 and turbocharger turbine 30 to extract energyfrom the exhaust gas before passing the exhaust gas throughhigh-temperature heater 44.

Power plant 112 may also include recuperator 48 to facilitate heattransfer between a flow of working fluid being heated upstream of heatengine turbine 36 and a flow of working fluid being cooled downstream ofheat engine turbine 36. Recuperator 48 may include one or more heatexchangers. Recuperator 46 may be operatively disposed betweenlow-temperature heater 42 and high-temperature heater 44 in relation tothe flow of working fluid being heated.

The order of heaters 42, 44 and recuperator 48 along the flow path ofthe working fluid being heated may be selected based on the temperatureof the respective heat sources and may be installed in order ofincreasing temperature of the respective heat sources so that theworking fluid may be progressively heated to a higher temperature as theworking fluid moves along the flow path between heat engine compressor38 and heat engine turbine 36.

Power plant 112 may also include one or more coolers 50 (referredhereinafter in the singular) to facilitate heat transfer between theworking fluid being cooled upstream of heat engine compressor 38 andambient air from outside of aircraft 10. For example, a flow of ambientair may be ducted from the exterior of aircraft 10 to the location ofcooler 50 (e.g., radiator) that may be housed inside of aircraft 10. Theambient air may serve as a cold sink for heat engine 20.

Low-temperature heater 42, high-temperature heater 44, recuperator 48,intercooler 46 and cooler 50 may include heat exchangers of suitabletypes to facilitate heat transfer between fluids. In some embodiments,suitable heat exchangers may include shell and tube heat exchangersand/or plate heat exchangers. In some embodiments, low-temperatureheater 42, high-temperature heater 44 and recuperator may includeparallel-flow and/or counter-flow heat exchangers.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another exemplary aircraft powerplant 212. Power plant 212 may include elements in common with powerplants 12, 112 described above and like elements are identified usinglike reference numerals. Heat engines 20, 120, 220 described herein mayinclude a combination of features such as single or split flow ofworking fluid, recuperation, intercooling, pre-heating, re-heating,inter-recuperation, pre-compression, split-expansion, recompressionand/or modified recompression for example. Such features may be selectedto achieve a desired performance based on the applicable operatingconditions. Accordingly, the configurations of heat engines 120, 220 areprovided as non-limiting examples and it is understood that suchconfigurations could be varied depending on the applicable operatingconditions.

Heat engine 220 may include a split flow of working fluid and arecompression cycle. For example, heat engine 220 may include tworecuperators 48 and 52 to facilitate heat transfer between the flow ofworking fluid being heated and the flow of working fluid being cooled.Recuperator 48 may be a low-temperature recuperator and recuperator 52may be a high-temperature recuperator. High-temperature recuperator 52may be operatively disposed between low-temperature recuperator 48 andhigh-temperature heater 44 in relation to the flow of working fluidbeing heated.

Heat engine 220 may include recompression compressor 54 drivinglyengaged with heat engine turbine 36 so that heat engine turbine 36 maydrive both heat engine compressor 38 and recompression compressor 54.Recompression compressor 54 may be operatively coupled to receive arecompression flow of working fluid extracted from the flow of workingfluid being cooled at an extraction location L1 downstream ofrecuperators 48, 52 and upstream of cooler 50. Extraction location L1may be a flow-splitting location where a first portion X of the workingfluid being cooled is directed to cooler 50 and a second portion (1−X)of the fluid being cooled is directed to recompression compressor 54.Recompression compressor 54 may compress the recompression flow ofworking fluid. Recompression compressor 54 may then deliver thecompressed recompression flow of working fluid to the flow of workingfluid being heated at a delivery location L2 between recuperators 48,52. Delivery location L2 may be a flow-merging location where therecompression flow of working fluid is combined with the flow of workingfluid being heated.

FIG. 5 is a temperature versus entropy graph illustrating an exemplaryclosed thermodynamic cycle implemented by heat engine 120. Thethermodynamic cycle shown in FIG. 5 is explained below in reference toFIG. 3 . Locations A-G indicated on the graph of FIG. 5 havecorresponding locations A-G indicated within the layout of heat engine120 shown in FIG. 3 . Location A may correspond to the lowesttemperature and pressure reached by the working fluid throughout thethermodynamic cycle. In some embodiments, location A may still be at orabove the critical point of the working fluid.

Segment A-B of the graph may correspond to the working fluid beingcompressed by heat engine compressor 38. Segment B-C may correspond tothe working fluid being heated by low-temperature heater 42. Segment C-Dmay correspond to the working fluid being heated by recuperator 48.Segment D-E may correspond to the working fluid being heated byhigh-temperature heater 44. Segment E-F may correspond to the workingfluid being expanded through heat engine turbine 36. Segment F-G maycorrespond to the working fluid being cooled by recuperator 48. SegmentG-A may correspond to the working fluid being cooled by cooler 50.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 100 of operating powerplant 12, 112, 212 including engine 18 or other aircraft power plant.Aspects of method 100 may be combined with steps of other methods, orother aspects described herein. In various embodiments, method 100 mayinclude:

operating engine 18 of power plant 12, 112, 212 (block 102);

generating heat using engine 18 (block 104);

transferring the heat from engine 18 to supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) used asa working fluid in heat engine 20, 120, 220 (block 106); and

converting the heat transferred to the sCO₂ to mechanical energy usingheat engine 20, 120, 220 (block 108).

Method 100 may include transferring heat from a coolant fluid and/or alubricating fluid of engine 18 to the sCO₂. Method 100 may, instead orin addition, include transferring heat from an exhaust gas of engine 18to the sCO₂.

The embodiments described in this document provide non-limiting examplesof possible implementations of the present technology. Upon review ofthe present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described hereinwithout departing from the scope of the present technology. Yet furthermodifications could be implemented by a person of ordinary skill in theart in view of the present disclosure, which modifications would bewithin the scope of the present technology.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aircraft power plant comprising: an internalcombustion engine using intermittent combustion during operation; aturbocharger associated with the internal combustion engine, theturbocharger including: a turbocharger turbine configured to be drivenby a flow of exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine; and aturbocharger compressor drivingly engaged with the turbocharger turbineand configured to compress combustion air for the internal combustionengine; and a heat engine using supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) as aworking fluid to convert heat into mechanical energy, the heat enginebeing in thermal communication with the exhaust gas downstream of theturbocharger turbine.
 2. The aircraft power plant as defined in claim 1,comprising: a first heat exchanger to facilitate heat transfer betweenthe exhaust gas downstream of the turbocharger turbine and the sCO₂; anda second heat exchanger to facilitate heat transfer between a coolantfluid of the internal combustion engine and the sCO₂, the second heatexchanger being operatively disposed upstream of the first heatexchanger relative to a first flow of the sCO₂ in the first and secondheat exchangers.
 3. The aircraft power plant as defined in claim 2,comprising a third heat exchanger to facilitate heat transfer between alubricating fluid of the internal combustion engine and the sCO₂, thethird heat exchanger being operatively disposed upstream of the firstheat exchanger relative to the first flow of the sCO₂.
 4. The aircraftpower plant as defined in claim 2, wherein: the heat engine includes aheat engine turbine and a heat engine compressor drivingly engaged withthe heat engine turbine; the aircraft power plant includes a firstrecuperator to facilitate heat transfer between the first flow of thesCO2 and a second flow of sCO₂ flowing from the heat engine turbinetoward the heat engine compressor; and the recuperator is operativelydisposed between the first and second heat exchangers relative to thefirst flow of the sCO₂.
 5. The aircraft power plant as defined in claim4, wherein: the aircraft power plant includes a second recuperator tofacilitate heat transfer between the first flow of the sCO₂ and thesecond flow of sCO₂; and the second recuperator is operatively disposedbetween the first recuperator and the second heat exchanger in relationto the first flow of the sCO₂.
 6. The aircraft power plant as defined inclaim 5, comprising a recompression compressor operatively coupled to:receive a recompression flow of sCO₂ extracted from the second flow ofsCO₂ at an extraction location downstream of the first and secondrecuperators; compress the recompression flow of sCO₂; and deliver thecompressed recompression flow of sCO₂ to the first flow of the sCO₂ at adelivery location between the first and second recuperators.
 7. Theaircraft power plant as defined in claim 1, wherein the internalcombustion engine is a Wankel engine.
 8. An aircraft power plantcomprising: a rotary internal combustion engine using intermittentcombustion during operation; a turbocharger configured to be driven byan exhaust gas from the rotary internal combustion engine and compresscombustion air for the rotary internal combustion engine; and a heatengine using supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) as a working fluid toconvert heat into mechanical energy, the heat engine being in thermalcommunication with the exhaust gas downstream of the turbocharger. 9.The aircraft power plant as defined in claim 8, comprising a heater tofacilitate heat transfer between a coolant fluid of the rotary internalcombustion engine and the sCO₂.
 10. The aircraft power plant as definedin claim 9, wherein: the heater is a first heater; the aircraft powerplant includes a second heater to facilitate heat transfer between theexhaust gas of the rotary internal combustion engine and the sCO₂; andthe second heater is operatively disposed downstream of the first heaterrelative to a first flow of the sCO₂ in the first and second heaters.11. The aircraft power plant as defined in claim 10, wherein the firstheater is also configured to facilitate heat transfer between alubricating fluid of the rotary internal combustion engine and the sCO₂.12. The aircraft power plant as defined in claim 10, comprising anintercooler configured to facilitate heat transfer from combustion airfor the rotary internal combustion engine to the coolant fluid.
 13. Theaircraft power plant as defined in claim 10, wherein: the heat engineincludes a heat engine turbine and a heat engine compressor drivinglyengaged with the heat engine turbine; the aircraft power plant includesa recuperator to facilitate heat transfer between the first flow of thesCO₂ and a second flow of sCO₂ flowing from the heat engine turbinetoward the heat engine compressor; the recuperator is operativelydisposed between the first and second heaters relative to the first flowof the sCO₂; and the aircraft power plant includes a cooler tofacilitate heat transfer between the second flow of sCO₂ and ambient airoutside of an aircraft.
 14. The aircraft power plant as defined in claim13, wherein: the recuperator is a first recuperator; the aircraft powerplant includes a second recuperator to facilitate heat transfer betweenthe first flow of the sCO₂ and the second flow of sCO₂; the secondrecuperator is operatively disposed between the first recuperator andthe second heater in relation to the first flow of the sCO₂; theaircraft power plant includes a recompression compressor operativelycoupled to: receive a recompression flow of sCO₂ extracted from thesecond flow of sCO₂ at an extraction location downstream of the firstand second recuperators and upstream of the cooler; compress therecompression flow of sCO₂; and deliver the compressed recompressionflow of sCO₂ to the first flow of the sCO₂ at a delivery locationbetween the first and second recuperators.
 15. The aircraft power plantas defined in claim 8, comprising: a first heater to facilitate heattransfer between a lubricating fluid of the rotary internal combustionengine and the sCO₂; and a second heater to facilitate heat transferbetween the exhaust gas and the sCO₂, the second heater beingoperatively disposed downstream of the first heater relative to a flowof the sCO₂ in the first and second heaters.
 16. The aircraft powerplant as defined in claim 8, wherein the aircraft power plant is anauxiliary power unit coupled to supply energy exclusively for functionsother than propulsion of the aircraft.
 17. A method of operating anaircraft power plant including an internal combustion engine, the methodcomprising: operating the internal combustion engine using intermittentcombustion and generating exhaust gas using the internal combustionengine; extracting energy from the exhaust gas; after extracting energyfrom the exhaust gas: using the energy extracted from the exhaust gas tocompress combustion air for the internal combustion engine; transferringheat from the exhaust gas to supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) used asa working fluid in a heat engine; and converting at least some of theheat transferred to the sCO₂ to mechanical energy using the heat engine.18. The method as defined in claim 17, comprising: transferring heatfrom a coolant fluid of the internal combustion engine to the sCO₂;transferring heat from a lubricating fluid of the internal combustionengine to the sCO₂; and transferring heat from an exhaust gas of theinternal combustion engine to the sCO₂.
 19. The method as defined inclaim 17, wherein the internal combustion engine is a Wankel engine. 20.The method as defined in claim 17, wherein comprising operating theinternal combustion engine to drive a propeller for propelling theaircraft.